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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole

4.62 from 13 votes
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posted: 09/18/19

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole that makes such a delicious and easy dinner recipe. A totally from scratch recipe with added instructions to cut corners and make it a little easier for your busy weeknights!

black bowl filled with instant pot chicken and rice casserole in front of an instant pot

Want to make this recipe in the crock pot? CLICK HERE.

Okay! We are carrying on with my quest to bring you guys all the easy dinners this fall. Because is anyone else’s family on the struggle bus with their new fall schedules? Ours is kicking us. Like really kicking us. So this easy dinner business is a must.

When I have asked what people want in their easy dinners, I’ve heard more Instant Pot recipes! I totally hear that. I make my Instant Pot Chicken Tacos all the time because once I start up the Instant Pot I can help the kids with the homework or do some dishes that have piled up. I can’t get enough easy Instant Pot chicken recipes.

This one is a little different in that we make Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (click that to get the full tutorial) while the recipe cooks so that this recipe can be totally from scratch and we can control the flavors a little. BUT! There is going to be a box at the bottom to show you how to make this recipe much easier and we will take out that step.

Because sometimes I like everything from scratch and sometimes I like things to be as easy as possible.

Should we jump right in?

landscape photo of chicken on a bed of carrots and rice after cooking an instant pot

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

I took some step by step photos of this guy for you. But this is the gist of it:

  1. Saute your vegetables right in your instant pot (let’s not dirty more dishes than necessary).
  2. Add in (in this order) chicken stock, rice, and chicken.
  3. Let the Instant Pot do it’s job.
  4. While it does, make the Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup. Or don’t! Open a can.
  5. When it is done cooking, cut up your chicken, throw in the condensed soup, and add in some frozen peas.

It’s a really easy meal that is warming, comforting, and delicious.

cut up cooked chicken with frozen peas and rice and carrots in a pressure cooker after cooking

Tips and Tricks for this Easy Instant Pot Recipe

Make sure your chicken isn’t too thick. Chicken breasts these days can be VERY thick. If I happen to buy bigger breasts, I cut them in half (butterfly style) so they are no more than an inch and a half thick at the thickest point. This makes them cook more consistently in the Instant POt.

Set your Instant Pot to “Sauté” while you are peeling and chopping your carrots. That saves you the time of waiting for it to read “Hot.”

Watch your butter carefully once you put it in, moving it around so it does not burn.

Read the recipe carefully. If this is your first time making this instant pot chicken and rice casserole recipe, make sure to read the recipe carefully. You are doing a natural release for the Instant Pot, but only for 10 minutes.

hand pouring homemade condensed cream of chicken soup into an instant pot that has cooked instant pot chicken breast and rice

How to Make this Recipe Easier

This is what you were waiting for, right? Here are a few corners we can cut. Because I would hate you to miss out on Instant Pot Chicken and Rice because it takes too much time.

  1. Skip the sautéing of vegetables. Buy a bag of frozen peas and carrots and add both at the end. We are losing the garlic and onion flavoring then, so add in a teaspoon each  of garlic powder and onion powder.
  2. Use a can of condensed cream of chicken soup. The instructions in this recipe leave you with the exact same amount as if you buy the can. So skip that step and just add in the store bought stuff.

With those two steps, the only real hands on work you are doing is cutting chicken at the end!

A Note About Salt

Because different chicken stocks vary GREATLY in their salt content, I left any additional salt out of this recipe. This may mean that your recipe turns out perfect, and it may mean that you need to add up to a teaspoon of salt at the end. Trust your tastebuds, my friends.

overhead view of a pressure cooker filled with homemade condensed cream of chicken soup frozen peas and cooked chicken to make instant pot chicken and rice

Other Instant Pot Favorites

If you are loving on your Instant pot like me, then some other great pressure cooker dinners you can make are:

overhead view close up of cream chicken and rice inside an instant pot

Other Easy Dinner Ideas

And if you are looking for other easy dinners in general, you have come to the right place!

If you make this chicken and rice in the instant pot make sure to leave me a comment and let me know how it goes! And tell me what else you are looking for in dinner recipes!

black bowl full of instant pot chicken and rice recipe on a white surface, garnished with parsley and a wooden spoon in the background
black bowl filled with instant pot chicken and rice casserole in front of an instant pot
4.62 from 13 votes

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole

Serves: 6 cups
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 41 minutes
Total: 46 minutes
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole that makes such a delicious and easy dinner recipe. A totally from scratch recipe with added instructions to cut corners and make it a little easier for your busy weeknights!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (see the note about salt)
  • 1 cup long grain rice
  • 1 pound chicken (see note)
  • 1 cup frozen green peas

Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (or a 10 ounce can of store bought)

  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Before you begin chopping your vegetables, set your Instant Pot to Sauté . This way when you are done prepping your carrots and onion, it will be hot and ready for you to put the vegetables in. (Read the notes to learn how to skip this step.)
  • Once the Instant Pot says "Hot" add the butter and stir quickly, so that it doesn't burn. Add the chopped vegetables (carrots, onion, and garlic). Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent burning, until the carrots are tender. Turn Instant Pot off.
  • In this order, add the chicken stock, rice, and set the chicken on top (please be sure to see the note about the chicken). Close the Instant Pot and set to High, Manual, 10 minutes. (Make sure that it is set to seal on top.)
    It will take the Instant Pot about 10 minutes to come to pressure. Once it is done cooking, let the Instant pot have a natural pressure release for 10 minutes (be sure to watch the time), then turn to venting until all the pressure has fully released.
    (Between coming to pressure, the cook time, natural release, and quick release it will be about 34 minutes.)
  • While the Instant Pot is doing it's job, make your homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup. (Read the notes to learn how to skip this step.) In a small saucepan over medium low heat, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour.
  • Gradually whisk in the chicken stock. Stir in the milk and the spices. Continue stirring, bringing the mixture to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes while stirring to prevent burning .
  • When the 10 minutes is up and you have vented and fully released the pressure of your Instant Pot, open it. Remove the chicken, cut it to bite sized pieces (or shred in the IP). Return the chicken to the IP, add the peas, and the Cream of Condensed Chicken Soup. Stir to combine and enjoy.

Notes

Make sure that your chicken is no more than 1 1/2 inch thick. If necessary, cut the chicken in half, butterfly style.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE EASIER!
This is what you were waiting for, right? Here are a few corners we can cut. Because I would hate you to miss out on Instant Pot Chicken and Rice because it takes too much time.
  1. Skip the sautéing of vegetables. Buy a bag of frozen peas and carrots and add both at the end. We are losing the garlic and onion flavoring then, so add in a teaspoon each  of garlic powder and onion powder.
  2. Use a can of condensed cream of chicken soup. The instructions in this recipe leave you with the exact same amount as if you buy the can. So skip that step and just add in the store bought stuff.
With those two steps, the only real hands on work you are doing is cutting chicken at the end!
A NOTE ABOUT SALT
Because different chicken stocks vary GREATLY in their salt content, I left any additional salt out of this recipe. This may mean that your recipe turns out perfect, and it may mean that you need to add up to a teaspoon of salt at the end. Trust your tastebuds, my friends.
Serving: 1cup Calories: 319kcal (16%) Carbohydrates: 34g (11%) Protein: 23g (46%) Fat: 11g (17%) Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 76mg (25%) Sodium: 400mg (17%) Potassium: 200mg (6%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 5300IU (106%) Vitamin C: 7.4mg (9%) Calcium: 290mg (29%) Iron: 1.4mg (8%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker
black bowl filled with instant pot chicken and rice casserole in front of an instant pot

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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Donna says

    This was a great idea!! My rice also came out mushy though and I think it’s because the ratio needs to be closer to 1:1 instead of 1.5:1. I use my instant pot all the time to make rice at a 1:1 ratio. Because it was mushy I did not add the cream of chicken soup. I added a bunch of cheddar cheese instead and mixed it all up. At the end of the day it was yummy and a great recipe!

  2. Samantha says

    4 stars
    After reading all the comments about mushy rice, I omitted the natural release step and just did a 10-minute cook time with manual release. It came out great! I used fresh broccoli in place of peas, which I added with the rice, and rotisserie chicken since that is what I had on hand. I also added some cheddar cheese for more flavor. Great base recipe that you can tweak to your preferences.

  3. BetsyBee says

    5 stars
    This is a wonderful recipe & so easy to make! I love the homemade cream of chicken soup, so much healthier than the canned soup. Thank you for sharing.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

  4. Beth says

    I’m looking for Chicken and Rice recipes in the Instant Pot because I have a friend who hates to cook and living in Arizona, so is not a fan of turning on her oven, but loves chicken and loves rice. She’s never had a Chicken and Rice Casserole (can you imagine?? LOL)

    Seeing people talking here about the rice turning out mushy made me think of another recipe I saw where the author says for an Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe, to reverse the layering from a normal casserole–put the chicken on the bottom and the rice on the top, and both cook better.

    Makes sense to me, because I use a normal pressure cooker and see all the time differences in how done some things are when in the liquid during the cooking time, vs in the steam.

  5. M Daniels says

    4 stars
    Really nice! Only thing I did different was add the milk to the flour/butter in parts while stirring constantly before the stock and seasoning to make a bechamel.

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